Comments on: A computer scientist finds the question of free will uninteresting for bad reasons https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/
Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:22:39 +0000
hourly
1 http://wordpress.com/
By: GSG https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1702372
Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:22:39 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1702372Reblogged this on GEOPOLITICUS.
]]>
By: FB https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1696339
Sat, 19 Jan 2019 16:09:23 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1696339“Would one be able to construct a machine that, if it was programmed with the immense knowledge about your brain and your environment that would be required to do such a job, would be able to predict your actions?”

– Machine, when and where exactly am I going to die?

The only way for that machine to do such a job is to kill you instantly. Otherwise, all you have to do is not to be in a certain place.

]]>
By: whyevolutionistrue https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1696041
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 06:53:01 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1696041You don’t seem to have noticed that I provided my definition of free will IN THE POST. I’m sorry to say that you haven’t even read enough on this site to credit me for what I have said (like describing it connection to social issues), much less thought clearly enough of the issue to articulate your own questions. I wish that some day people who criticize my posts, as you do here, would read the damn things before they shot their bazoo off.
]]>
By: Robin https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1696040
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 06:49:16 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1696040I wish that one day someone who makes the claim “You have no free will” would provide a suitable definition of the term “free will” and then provide a reason why we dnn’t have it.

Just saying ‘because we can’t escape the laws of physics’ is clearly not enough. How would ‘escaping the laws of physics’ (whatever that means) give us free will (whatever that means).

And what does it have to do with social issues? Taking the retributive aspect out of justice is a good idea in any case. Tying it to some obscure metaphysical point only confuses the issue.

]]>
By: Paul Topping https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1695993
Fri, 18 Jan 2019 00:55:15 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1695993I’m also starting in on Aaronson’s paper. I am gratified to see that he will distinguish between a brain-like simulation that can pass the Turing Test and a simulation of a particular brain, a point I made here as well. Judging from the TOC, it should be an interesting read.
]]>
By: paultorek https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1695986
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 23:45:56 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1695986I finally read the Aaronson paper Jerry cited in the Update to this post. It was well worth it. In spite of Aaronson’s over-emphasis on prediction, what he got right was far more important than where he went astray. The extremely right part comes in section 2.9, where he rejects step (ii) of a well-known incompatibilist argument, and insists on the distinction between microphysical facts and macro-facts.

Since Aaronson is an expert on entropy, it’s not surprising that he noticed that irreversibility is associated with entropy, and thus with macroscopic facts. But it’s still a smart move.

]]>
By: paultorek https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1695983
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 23:28:18 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1695983Yes. I want to be predictable to my friends, and unpredictable to my enemies. Not that predictability is the same as control, or unfree will. I’d rather not be predictable to enemies, but that’s better than being under their control.
]]>
By: GBJames https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1695966
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:18:59 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1695966My main problem is with arbitrary whooping.
]]>
By: rickflick https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1695958
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 21:57:47 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1695958Oh, and one more thing…
” arbitrarily whip something up.”

Arbitrary whipping is, as far as I know, a misdemeanor offense on this forum. Even accusing someone of arbitrary whipping can be considered a way to practice arbitrary whipping. Just my 2 cents.

]]>
By: Paul Topping https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/a-computer-scientist-finds-the-question-of-free-will-uninteresting-for-bad-reasons/#comment-1695937
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 21:03:05 +0000http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/?p=255149#comment-1695937“Another way speed might be a useful term is in comparing how quickly subjects can accomplish mental tasks, such as add a sum.”

In fact, I think it is the only way to usefully compare brains to non-brains at the moment. It is also the most meaningful speed measure. In computing, it usually only makes sense to measure the speed of whatever it is you actually care about. In other words, proxies may be easier to measure but they are often misleading.